UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA     AGRICULTURAL    EXPERIMENT    STATION 
COLLEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE  benj.  ide  wheeler,  pres. dent 

THOMAS    F.   HUNT,    DEAN  AND    DIRECTOR 

BERKELEY 


CIRCULAR  No.  80 

(October,  1912) 


BOYS'  AND  GIRLS'  CLUBS 


BY 
E.  B.  BABCOCK,  W.  G.  HUMMEL   AND  F.  L.  GRIFFIN 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  PRESS 
BERKELEY 


BOYS'  AND  GIRLS'  CLUBS 


What  they  are. — Boys'  and  girls'  agricultural  clubs  are  organiza- 
tions of  young  people  who  agree  to  study  together  about  agriculture 
and  domestic  arts,  make  gardens  for  home  and  school,  and  try  experi- 
ments for  the  improvement  of  the  crops  they  grow. 

What  are  their  purposes. — The  chief  purposes  of  these  clubs  are 
briefly  as  follows: 

1.  To  afford  the  teacher  a  simple  and  easy  method  of  teaching 
practical  agriculture  and  domestic  arts  in  the  best  possible  way, 
namely,  by  actual  work  in  growing  plants,  rearing  animals,  or  prepar- 
ing articles  of  food  or  clothing. 

2.  To  show  that  there  is  more  in  the  soil  than  the  farmer  has  gotten 
out  of  it ;  to  inspire  boys  with  a  love  of  the  land  by  showing  them  how 
they  can  get  wealth  out  of  it  and  thus  be  helpful  to  the  family  and  the 
neighborhood;  to  inspire  girls  with  an  appreciation  of  domestic  arts 
by  helping  them  to  discover  what  they  themselves  can  do  in  bettering 
their  surroundings. 

3.  To  give  both  girls  and  boys  a  definite,  worthy  purpose  and  to 
stimulate  friendly  rivalry  among  them. 

Where  they  have  succeeded. — Nearly  all  the  great  agricultural 
states  of  the  middle  west  have  had  successful  experience  with  boys' 
and  girls'  agricultural  clubs.  Most  states  from  Maine  to  Louisiana 
and  from  Florida  to  Oregon  have  had  some  of  these  clubs  and  in  some 
states  many  thousands  of  young  people  belong  to  them.  "We  want 
thousands  of  California  boys  and  girls  to  join  these  clubs. 

Who  will  help. — 1.  The  principal,  special  supervisor  or  school 
superintendent  will  probably  be  glad  to  arrange  a  meeting  and  help 
in  the  work  of  organizing. 

2.  The  teacher  will  be  glad  to  be  a  learner  with  the  members  while 
she  leads  in  making  plans  for  study,  contests  and  exhibitions.  The 
teacher  should  not  hesitate  to  interest  herself  in  the  activity  which  is 
of  most  interest  to  the  pupils  even  though  she  may  know  very  little 
about  it.  She  should  frankly  become  a  learner  with  the  club  members, 
using  her  best  judgment  in  guiding  their  club  work  after  advising 
with  the  most  reliable  friends  of  the  school. 


3.  The  local  grange,  farmers'  union,  farmers'  club,  chamber  of 
commerce,  or  board  of  trade  will  probably  cooperate  in  every  way 
possible. 

4.  The  city  and  county  Superintendents  of  Schools  will  be  fur- 
nished with  special  circulars  on  agricultural  club  contests  by  the 
College  of  Agriculture.  Apply  to  your  nearest  superintendent  for 
these. 

5.  The  instructors  in  agriculture  in  the  normal  schools,  farm 
schools  and  high  schools  will  doubtless  give  all  possible  assistance. 

6.  The  College  of  Agriculture  of  the  University  of  California  will 
answer  any  inquiries  sent  there.  Address  Dean  of  College  of  Agri- 
culture, Berkeley,  Cal. 

7.  The  Secretary  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C,  will  send,  free 
of  cost,  valuable  pamphlets,  farmers'  bulletins,  etc.,  that  will  instruct 
the  members  on  almost  any  line  of  study  they  may  undertake. 

What  work  may  he  undertaken. — Clubs  should  choose  topics  which 
are  of  interest  to  the  greatest  number.  When  the  girls  are  more  inter- 
ested in  things  pertaining  to  home  making  than  in  growing  crops  or 
raising  animals,  they  may  organize  separately  for  study  of  cooking, 
sewing,  etc.  The  boys,  on  the  other  hand,  may  wish  to  study  some 
particular  crop,  such  as  potatoes,  wheat,  corn  or  cotton.  But  many 
clubs  will  consist  of  both  boys  and  girls  who  are  interested  in  raising 
sweet  peas,  trees  or  poultry,  or  making  butter.  All  these  lines  of 
study  may  lead  up  to  contests  and  exhibitions.  On  account  of  the  wide 
diversity  of  interests  it  has  been  thought  wise  to  plan  a  series  of 
contests  suitable  for  any  of  the  various  clubs  above  mentioned. 

Suggestions  for  Organizing  Agricultural  Club  Contests 
7.  Following  are  the  contests  proposed  for  1912-13 : 
Class  A.     For  boys. 

1.  Crop  growing — potatoes,  wheat,  corn,  lima  beans,  sugar  beets,  cotton. 

2.  Hog  raising. 

Class  B.     For  girls. 

1.  Cooking. 

2.  Sewing. 

3.  Canning. 

Class  C.     For  boys  and  girls. 

1.  Sweet  pea  growing. 

2.  Poultry  raising. 

3.  Butter  making. 

4.  Tree  growing. 


Besides  the  above  subjects  for  study  and  contests,  clubs  may  choose 
from  a  large  variety  of  other  topics,  such  as  squab  raising,  rabbit  rais- 
ing, bee  keeping,  rose  culture,  chrysanthemum  growing,  etc.,  etc.  But, 
for  the  present,  the  College  of  Agriculture  does  not  agree  to  furnish 
special  circulars  of  instruction  upon  topics  other  than  those  listed 
above. 

Unit  of  Organization. — A  club  may  consist  of  only  five  members. 
Hence  there  may  be  a  club  in  any  school.  But  numbers  lend  enthusi- 
asm and  it  is  hoped  that  school  superintendents  wil  encourage  the 
formation  of  county  or  city  clubs  on  the  representative  basis,  have 
officers  and  an  advisory  committee.  With  such  an  organization  county 
or  city  exhibits  can  be  arranged  and  county  awards  offered  either  to 
local  clubs  collectively  or  to  individuals.  This  plan  is  working  suc- 
cessfully in  other  states. 

II.  Exhibits,  prizes,  premiums  and  certificates 

A  school  or  a  town  or  a  group  of  schools  or  towns  through  their 
clubs  should  hold  exhibitions.  They  will  display  the  products  grown 
or  articles  cooked,  sewed,  or  canned.  Certificates  and  badges  should 
be  awarded  to  all  who  do  well.  Two  grades  or  standards  of  excellence 
may  be  recognized  by  both  certificates  and  badges,  for  those  achieving 
first  grade  and  only  the  certificate  for  those  attaining  second  grade. 
Individual  prizes  of  money  are  not  to  be  encouraged.  The  work  well 
done  will  bring  adequate  returns.  Some  suitable  award  to  the  club 
collectively  for  the  largest  number  of  individual  certificates  secured 
will  promote  good  team  work  and  community  interest.  At  the  same 
time  such  individual  award  as  a  trip  to  a  county  or  district  fair,  to 
the  state  fair,  an  agricultural  experiment  station  or  farm,  or  a  poly- 
technic school  will  serve  both  to  educate  the  winner  and  as  a  proper 
incentive  to  individual  effort. 

III.  Rules  for  Contestants 

Each  club  may  formulate  its  own  plans  and  rules.  When  several 
clubs  engage  in  a  joint  contest  a  committee  should  arrange  the  rules. 
Here  are  some  suggestions : 

1.  Only  members  may  engage  in  the  contests. 

2.  Each  member  is  allowed  to  make  only  one  exhibit  entry  in  a  contest. 

3.  Each  contestant  must  be  between  the  ages  of  3  0  and  10.  (The  age  limits 
may  be  changed  if  thought  advisable.) 


4.  Each  contestant  for  the  certificate  of  award  must  prepare  the  soil,  test 
plant,  cultivate  and  harvest  crop,  all  without  assistance,  except  that  when 

plowing,  spading,  hauling,  weighing,  etc.,  is  too  heavy  work  for  the  contestant, 
he  may  have  assistance,  but  shall  direct  the  work. 

5.  Each  contestant  must  study  the  score  card  or  circulars  recommended  to  him. 

6.  Each  contestant  must  carefully  fill  the  blank  on  ' '  How  the  Crop  was 
Grown,"  or  similar  report. 

7.  Each  contestant 's  report  must  be  endorsed  by  his  parent  or  guardian  and 
countersigned  by  his  teacher. 

8.  All  exhibits  are  to  be  the  property  of  contestants  at  the  close  of  the 
exhibit  unless  the  advisory  committee  rules  otherwise.  (They  may  be  sold  at 
auction  to  meet  expenses  of  exhibit  if  necessary.) 

TV.  How  to  make  a  beginning 

The  teacher  or  another  interested  party  should  call  a  meeting  of 
the  boys  and  girls.  Ask  the  principal  or  superintendent  or  some  friend 
to  be  present  and  help  organize.  A  notice  somewhat  like  the  following 
may  be  put  in  the  paper  or  sent  by  mail : 

Notice 

The  boys  and  girls  over  years  of  age  in  

School  and  any  others  who  wish  to  join  them  are  cordially  invited  to  meet  at  the 
school  on  ,  ,  ]91 ,  at  o'clock. 

The  object  of  this  meeting  is  to  organize  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in 

contests  this  year.     Each  contestant  will  be 

supplied  with  directions  for  the  work.     Certificates  of  award  for  the  best  work 

have  been  offered  by  

If  you  want  to  enjoy  a  lively  and  happy  competition  do  not  fail  to  come  and 
join  the  club.  Bring  your  parents  or  friends  if  they  are  interested.  Be  on 
time.     The  meeting  will  open  promptly. 

V.  Enrollment  Record 

After  a  full  explanation  has  been  made  of  the  general  objects  of 
the  club,  blanks  like  the  following  may  be  distributed  and  signed  by 
those  who  wish  to  join. 

Enrollment  Card 

I  wish  to  join  the  Club  and  hereby 

promise  to  follow  all  the  rules  of  membership  and  contests. 

{Sign  here) 

Age  at  nearest  birthday Date  of  birth 

Town  

School   

Teacher    

P.O.  Address  


VI.  Adopt  a  Constitution 

Each  club  will  choose  its  own  constitution,  which  should  be  simple. 
Members  present  at  time  of  adoption  may  sign  it  as  charter  members, 
and  other  members  should  be  elected  as  provided  in  the  constitution. 
The  following  outline  may  help  in  writing  the  constitution  of  a  club. 

Outline  of  Constitution 

Article  I. — Name  of  Club. 

Article  II.— Object  of  Club. 

Article  III. — Membership  (including  badge  or  button  and  a  provision  for 
honorary  membership  if  desired). 

Article  IV. — Officers.  A  president,  one  vice-president  from  each  school,  when 
two  or  more  schools  compose  the  same  club,  and  an  advisory  committee  con- 
sisting of  persons  in  the  community  or  elsewhere  who  will  aid  in  promoting  the 
interests  of  the  club.  The  principal  or  a  teacher  may  well  serve  as  chairman 
of  the  advisory  committee. 

Article  V. — Duties  of  members.     (As  prescribed  in  the  rules  for  contests.) 

Article  VI- — Duties  of  Officers.  (Defined  as  usual  in  such  organizations.) 
In  addition  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  report  at  least  once  each  year 
to  the  County  or  City  Superintendent  of  Schools. 

The  advisory  committee  shall  arrange  for  all  public  contests  and  exhibits, 
the  procuring  and  awarding  of  certificates,  the  sending  of  letters  and  circulars 
of  information,  the  general  meetings  of  the  club,  and  reporting  of  statistics  and 
other  information  to  the  public. 

VII.  The  First  Work 

After  the  constitution  has  been  adopted  and  officers  elected  the  next 
step  will  be  to  select  the  first  work  to  be  undertaken.  In  this  the 
advisory  committee  will  be  ready  to  help.  If  the  club  is  started  in  the 
winter  months  a  study  of  some  kind  should  begin.  This  should  lead 
to  something  definite  in  the  work  to  be  done  in  spring  and  summer. 
Some  of  the  special  circulars  will  suggest  references  for  study.  After 
actual  work  has  been  decided  on  there  should  be  definite  rules  for 
the  conduct  of  any  contest  that  may  be  proposed.  These  should  be 
prepared  by  the  advisory  committee  and  agreed  to  on  the  part  of 
members. 

VIII.  The  Final  Report 

Whether  an  exhibit  is  held  or  not  each  contestant  should  make  a 
complete  report  upon  the  particular  crop  or  animal  raised  or  article 
made.  When  no  exhibit  is  held  the  awarding  of  certificates  must  be 
made  on  the  basis  of  these  reports.    The  following  forms  are  suggested : 


HOW  THE  CROP  WAS  GROWN 

1.  Grown  by  ,  School 

2.  Postoffiee  address  

3.  Area  of  plot  in  sq.  rods  or  lengths  of  rows (Not  less  than  acre.) 

4.  Kind  of  soil,  loamy,  sandy,  clayey,  adobe,  peaty  

5.  Kind  of  crop  grown  on  it  the  year  before  

6.  Kind  of  crop  grown  on  it  the  second  year  before  

7.  Kind  and  amount  of  fertilizer  used  

8.  Cost  and  value  of  fertilizer  

9.  Date  of  plowing  or  spading  

Hours  required:  self  ;   horse  

10.  Depth  of  plowing  or  spading  in  inches  

11.  Additional  preparation  of  the  ground: 

(a)   How  many  times  disked  or  hoed  when 

(&)    How  many  times  harrowed  or  raked when 

(c)  How  otherwise  prepared 

(d)  Total  hours  work  of  preparation:  self ;  horse 

12.  Kind  of  crop  planted  Variety  name 

13.  Seed  procured  from 

14.  Quantity  used  for  seed 

15.  Number  of  hills,  drills  or  sq.  rods  planted  

What  fraction  of  an  acre  

16.  Date  of  planting  ,  191 

17.  Date  when  plants  first  came  up  

18.  Date  of  each  irrigation,  if  any  

19.  Date  of  each  cultivation  or  hoeing  

20.  Total  hours  cultivation:  self ;  horse 

21.  Total  hours  irrigation  Cost  of  water  

22.  Date  of  first  product  ready  for  market  ,  191 

23.  Date  of  any  frost  on  the  crop  ,  191 

24.  Date  of  harvesting  ,  191 

25.  Number  of  specimens  selected  

26.  Date  of  selecting  specimens  for  exhibit  ,  191 

27.  Notes  on  specimens  at  the  time  of  exhibit  

28.  Was  the  selecting  done  without  any  other  person  present? 

29.  Was  all  the  work  of  production  done  by  the  contestant?   (except  plowing, 

spading,  weighing,  or  hauling)   

30.  Total  number  of  hours  worked  

31.  Total  number  of  hours  horse  worked  

32.  Value  of  own  work  at  cents  per  hour,  $ 

33.  Value  of  horse's  work  at  cents  per  hour,  $ 

34.  Value  of  ground  rent  for  crop  at  per  acre,  $ 

35.  Value  of  fertilizers  used,  $ Of  water,  $ 

36.  Value  of  salable  crop  at  

37.  Profit  on  the  season's  work,  $ 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  report  is  true. 

(Signed)    

Parent  or  Guardian. 


Teacher. 


CONDITIONS    GOVERNING    POULTRY    CONTESTS 

1.  The  best  brood  of  chickens  hatched  by  a  mother  hen  and  raised  by   the 

contestant. 

2.  Number  of  eggs  set. 

3.  Number  of  chickens  hatched. 

4.  Date  of  hatching. 

4.  Variety  of  chickens,  if  any. 

6.  How  cared  for  from  date  of  birth  until  contest  is  over. 

7.  What  kind  of  feed  used. 

8.  How  much  food  used  per  each  chicken. 

9.  Time  spent  each  day  in  caring  for  the  poultry. 

10.  Kind  of  poultry  house  used.     (Give  full  description.) 

11.  How  often  is  poultry  house  cleaned? 

12.  Date  first  egg  is  laid. 

13.  Age  of  chicken  when  first  egg  is  laid. 

14.  Total  number  of  eggs  laid. 

15.  Average  price  of  eggs. 

16.  Cost  of  food  used. 

17.  Amount  received  by  sale  of  eggs  or  value  of  eggs  if  not  sold. 

18.  Each  fowl  to  be  banded  with  leg-band  and  a  record  kept  of  the  number. 

19.  Number  of  fowls  in  contest  to  be  not  less  than  5  nor  more  than  25  for  each 

contest. 

20.  Contest  to  begin  December  1,  1912,  and  end  November  30,  1913. 

21.  In  case  exhibit  is  made  it  should  consist  of  one  male  and  four  females 

CONDITIONS  GOVERNING  HOG  CONTEST 

1.  Each  contestant  must  submit  a  written  report  giving  a  detailed  account  of 

the  care  and  feeding  of  the  pig  from  birth. 

2.  Any  type  of  pig  may  be  raised. 

3.  If  at  any  time  the  pig  is  sick  give  full  account  of  its  illness,  together  with 

any  unnatural  conditions  during  its  growth  and  development. 

4.  Describe  the  housing  of  the  pig. 

5.  All  reports  must  be  submitted  to  the  Superintendent,  who  will   select  the 

contestants  and  request  them  to  bring  their  pigs  to  the  contest,  or  the 
judges  may  visit  and  score  each  pig,  announcing  the  prize  winners  later. 

6.  At  the  time  of  the  contest  the  pig  must  be  between  3  and  8  months  old. 

7.  The  prizes  will  be  given  on  the  merits  of  the  animal  showing  the  best  form 

and  finish,  and  for  market  condition. 

Sow  and  Litter  Contest 

The  rules  governing  the  sow  and  litter  contest  will  be  the  same  as  the  first 
five  of  the  single  pig  contest.  The  ages  of  the  pigs  to  be  between  one  and 
three  months  old.  The  prizes  should  be  given  for  the  best  sow  and  litter  as 
regards  size  of  litter,  health,  thrift  and  uniformity  of  pigs.  Care  of  the  sow 
ten  days  before  farrowing. 


